The Ghanaian with the World’s Most Interesting Mathematician title : Angela Tabiri

Ghanaian mathematician Angela Tabiri, widely recognized as the Maths Queen, has recently secured the title of the World’s Most Interesting Mathematician.

The contest, known as the World’s Most Interesting Mathematician, was organized by The Big Internet Math-Off and took place from 1 July to 24 July in the United States of America. The competition comprised 16 mathematicians from around the world; lecturers, researchers, entrepreneurs and authors. Tabiri emerged as the winner in this year’s competition.

Tabiri has been acknowledged for her pioneering work in mathematics and her creative methods for tackling mathematical problems that are complex.

Tabiri’s journey towards becoming a renowned mathematician started at a young age when she discovered her love for numbers and problem-solving. Tabiri has been tenacious and persistent in her pursuit of a career in mathematics, despite the challenges and stereotypes she faced as a woman in a male-dominated field.

Upon graduating from the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) Ghana in 2014, Angela furthered her studies by enrolling in the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) postgraduate diploma program in mathematics. While at ICTP, she applied for and received the prestigious Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future Fellowship in 2015 to fund her PhD in mathematics at the University of Glasgow, UK. She graduated from the University of Glasgow with a PhD in Mathematics in June 2019. Currently, Angela serves as a Research Associate, with a focus on Quantum Algebra, and holds the position of Academic Manager for the Girls in Mathematical Sciences Program (GMSP) at AIMS Ghana. Miss Tabiri is responsible for organizing Science Slam Ghana, a science communication event where researchers present their research to a non-specialist audience in an engaging and entertaining manner.

Again, Angela is the founder of Femafricmaths, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting female African mathematicians via interviewing and sharing the stories of mathsqueens to inspire young people about the various career opportunities available when pursuing a mathematics education. Angela also recruits and trains mathsqueens for hands-on mathematics outreach activities targeting high school students in Ghana. Additionally, she is involved in initiatives such as Science in Tents, National STEAM Day, and Y3p3mIn February 2024, Angela was chosen by the Falling Walls Foundation for the 2024 Female Science Talents Intensive Track Program. Out of 20 exceptionally talented scientists selected from 15 countries, Angela was one of those chosen for this one-year mentoring program, which fosters female leadership in science, business, and society.

She actively mentors young students, particularly girls, inspiring them to pursue their interests in STEM fields and overcome hurdles within the mathematical community.